Halbertsma, Justus Hiddes (1789-1869)

Justus Hiddes Halbertsma, born 23 October 1789, at Grouw, died 14 February 1869 at Deventer, served as Mennonite pastor at Bolsward 1814-1821, and Deventer 1821-1856, when he resigned to devote himself to writing. One of his works was De Doopsgezinden en Hunne herkomst (Deventer, 1843), in which he attempted to prove a Waldensian origin for the Mennonites. The book is of value for its information on the liberal ideas of Halbertsma and many Mennonites of his time. The book also contained some sermons, which were sharply criticized by Samuel Muller in the Dutch periodical Vaderlandsche Letteroefeningen of 1843 and 1844 (reprint, Beoordeeling van eenige Kerkredenen van H. H., Amsterdam, 1844).

Halbertsma studied the Nordic languages, especially his native Frisian, and became a specialist on Gysbert Japiex (1603-1666), a Frisian poet. He cooperated with his brothers Eeltje, who was a physician in Grouw, and Tjalling, in publishing Frisian verse and tales, which were eagerly read and thus influenced Frisian life. He also translated the Gospel of Matthew into Frisian (1858). The complete Frisian works of the Halbertsma brothers were published in 1871 titled Rimen en Teltsjes (5th ed., Leeuwarden, 1918).